May 11, 2015 — Nativity Preparatory School, a Jesuit middle school in Boston’s
Jamaica Plain neighborhood, has transformed the lives of young men with a tuition-free,
first-class education since its founding in 1990. In the past 25 years, 99
percent of its students have gone on to graduate from high school.

"All
of the kids we serve are from inner-city neighborhoods of Boston, low-income
families that are struggling with all of the typical things kids from the city
struggle with," said Jesuit Father John Wronski, president of Nativity
Prep. He cited violence in their neighborhoods, low expectations, or lack of resources
— especially for education — as just a sampling of the problems.

The student body of 76 receives three meals a day, tutoring
from alumni, and opportunities to participate in sports and other activities in
a highly structured 12-hour school day. "We all spend a lot of time with
each other, practically from 7:30 [a.m.] to 8 at night. Because of that, we're
very close," said eighth grader Anthony Perez.

"It's kind of like we're brothers because we're all
together, all the time,” said John Okafor, an eighth grader. Okafor, whose parents are Nigerian immigrants,
will head to the rigorous Milton Academy in Massachusetts in the fall, hoping
to pursue a career in science.

But at Nativity Prep, it isn't just about academics.
Students are encouraged to give back and serve. "It's not just a place
where I learned grammar and arithmetic. It's where I learned to be a man,"
said Hudson Evei, who graduated from the school in 1996. A first-generation
American who grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts, Evei is now a corporate
banker serving on Nativity Prep's board of trustees. "I think a lot of the
values I developed as a student there are some of the key tools I've utilized
to get where I am," Evei said.

"It's really something to celebrate when you look at
the stories of our alums and the professional success they've had in all kinds
of fields," said Fr. Wronski.

As the school marks its 25th anniversary, one of the
missions is to continue providing guidance and support beyond graduation.
"We never let them go. They're always part of the family," said
Winston Tuggle, director of graduate support.

Eighty percent of Nativity Prep students enroll in college
and 70 percent graduate. The school hopes to grow those numbers with the help
of a dedicated group of staff, volunteers and alums. "It's all about the
people who are drawn here to give something back to the community," said
Fr. Wronski.

"I came back because all the people who donated and
gave their time to me just made a great impact in my life," said Anthony
Docanto, an alumnus and Boston College High School senior who tutors students
at Nativity Prep. "So, for me to take the time to come back and give back
to the students is just a full circle." [Source: NECN
Boston]

(Washington, D.C., March 13, 2018) — Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, has named new rectors for the two Jesuit theology centers in the United States. Fr. Michael Boughton, SJ, will serve as rector of the Faber Jesuit Community at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (BCSTM), while Fr. Martin Connell, SJ, will serve as rector of the Jesuit Community at the Jesuit School of Theology (JST) of Santa Clara University.

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